Early voting begins MondayThe Pope County Election Commission conducted logic and accuracy testing on Thursday for the General Election in November. Early voting will take place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 24 through Friday, Nov. 4; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 29 and Nov. 5; and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 7 at the Election Commission Headquarters on East Main Street. Hours on election day (Nov. 8) will be from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Social Security recipients to get tiny increase in benefitsWASHINGTON — Millions of Social Security recipients and federal retirees will get a 0.3 percent increase in monthly benefits next year, the fifth year in a row that older Americans will have to settle for historically low raises. There was no increase this year. Next year's benefit hike will be small because inflation is low, driven in part by lower fuel prices. The federal government announced the cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, Tuesday. ...

Prosecutors: Indicted former judge tried to bribe witnessesLITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A former Arkansas judge accused of giving lighter sentences to defendants in exchange for nude photos and sexual acts tried to bribe witnesses and had an accomplice threaten to make one of them "disappear," federal prosecutors say. Joseph Boeckmann appeared disheveled as the accusations were levied during his arraignment hearing Monday in U.S. District Court in Little Rock. Wearing jeans and a button-down shirt while s...

3 charged with murder to face November trialThree men charged with the murder of a Havana man in March have had their trial set for Nov. 17 in Yell County Circuit Court. According to the office of Tom Tatum, 15th Judicial District prosecuting attorney, Michael Douglas Gargis, 28, of Danville, Sean Mathis Tyra, 23, of Havana, and Robert Michael McCowan, 19, of Russellville were given a pretrial date of Nov. 3 and jury trial date of Nov. 17. Circuit Judge Jerry Don Ramey continued their c...

Candidate Q&A: Fred StandridgeEditor's note: The Courier reached out to the candidates vying for Dover Alderman Ward 2 Pos 2. The candidates were asked the same questions. Why are you seeking this position? I am seeking re-election because I am familiar with the duties of a city council member and I want to continue to be a voice for and an ear to hear the citizens of Dover on issues that concern them. If elected, what will be your top three priorities? First, to help keep...

Candidate Q&A: Brian AndersonEditor's note: The Courier reached out to the candidates vying for Dover Alderman Ward 2 Pos 2. The candidates were asked the same questions. Why are you seeking this position? I want to be a Member of the Dover City Council assist in the right decisions being made to continue to help our town grow and improve. I look forward to the opportunity to work with the citizens as well as the other members of the council. If elected, what will be your...

A&P Commission approves '17 budgetThe Russellville Advertising & Promotion Commission approved its budget for 2017 during a recent meeting. Executive Director Christie Graham explained that the budget had expenses of $345,300 with anticipated revenue of $345,000. Two expenditures from the 2017 general fund approved during the meeting were $12,700 for a ticket booth and $6,500 for batting cages at Pleasant View Park. The commission also approved a recommendation to give the Rus...

Candidate Q&A: Robert StandridgeEditor's note: The Courier reached out to the candidates vying for Dover Alderman Ward 2 Pos 2. The candidates were asked the same questions. Why are you seeking this position? We were having some issues in my neighborhood. Some residents and myself took our complaints to city hall and some council members.We were dismissed and told nothing would be done. A few residents met and we decided we needed someone on the council and I was selected. I...

Community people: Genney Baker, Matt StephenTHE COURIER / Submitted Casa Director Genney Baker (left) is pictured with Kiwanis President Matt Stephen. Stephen presented Genney and CASA with a check for $1,500. A CASA volunteer provides the judge with carefully researched information about the child to help the court make a sound decision about the child's future. The CASA volunteer makes recommendations about placement to the judge and follows through until the child reaches a safe perm...

ARA class honors past presidentThe Arkansas Realtors Association's 2016 Graduate Realtor Leadership Academy recently paid tribute to long-time Realtor, educator and mentor, Bill Ladd, during a presentation at the Arkansas Realtors Association's annual convention last week in Fayetteville. Each year, the leadership class goes through a series of classes and trainings all while planning a project that will leave a legacy in the association. This year's class hoped to leave a ...

Obituary: Mary MusgroveDARDANELLE — Mary Kathryn Manry Musgrove, age 81, of Dardanelle, passed away Monday, Oct. 10, 2016, at Mitchell’s Nursing Home in Danville. She was born March 10, 1935, at Polk County, Texas, to the late Edgar Alton and Maude Estelle Thomas Manry. She loved watching hummingbirds and taking care of her roses. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Travis Musgrove. Survivors include her son, Keith Musgrove (Carol) of Lancaster...

Obituary: Kathleen FlaneryATKINS — Kathleen Flanery, 69, of Morrilton, passed away Sunday, Oct. 16, 2017, at St. Vincent Health Services in Morrilton. She was born Nov. 28, 1946, in California, daughter of the late Lee Solomon and Effie Edith Smile Higgs. She was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Hazel McClish; and a brother, Thomas Hicks. She is survived by three sons, Manuel Weston, Jesse Weston, William Beck and numerous grandchildren. Arrangements are pri...

Obituary: Christopher Edgmon CLARKSVILLE — Christopher Garret Edgmon, 40, of Jasper, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2016. Chris was born Feb. 11, 1976, in Ozark, to Mr. Garrett Edgmon and Minnie (Harderson) Mitchell. He is preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents. He is survived by his mother, Minnie (Larry) Mitchell of Clarksville; his father, Garrett Edgmon of Clarksville; and two very special friends, Sonya Rigsby and Arvell Becker. Visitation for Edg...

Obituary: Robert WooleyRobert Elton Wooley, 50, a resident of Little Rock, died Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016, at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock. He was born April 13, 1966, at Dardanelle to Robert Austin and Ada Ruth Hughes Wooley. He attended Ironton Assembly of God in Little Rock and worked for Quik Lube in Little Rock for more than 23 years, where he was currently the manager. He enjoyed playing music, his guitar, singing and working on car...

Obituary: Patricia StansberyDARDANELLE — Ms. Patricia Anne Stansbery died in her sleep at Russellville Nursing and Rehab on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016, at the age of 81. Pat was born on Dec. 5, 1934, in Joliet, Ill., to William and Myrtle Stansbery. Pat is survived by several cousins in Arkansas and Texas. She was preceded in death by her father William Bryan Stansbery, her mother Myrtle Stansbery Woolsey and step-father Mark Woolsey. She graduated high school from Central ...

Obituary: Wanda MoulderATKINS — Wanda Moulder, 70, of Atkins, passed away Saturday, Oct. 15, 2016, at her home. She was born April 8, 1946, in Russellville, daughter of the late Walter and Ethel Bratton Kelley. She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Linda and Judy Kelley; a son, Mark Allan Stepps; and her husband of 30 years, Allen Joe Stepps. She is survived by her husband of 23 years, Billy Moulder; children, Tommy and Kelly Spivey, Mikia and Ashle...

Two downtown events set for Oct. 22Pop-Up El Paso and Farm to Fork, two separate yet connected events, are scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 22, in Russellville. The first event that day, Pop Up El Paso, is a project Arkansas Tech University (ATU) and Miller Boskus Lack Architects (MBLA) along with Uncommon Communities have collaborated on. Tabatha Duvall with Uncommon Communities said ATU and MBLA have conducted studies to gather public opinion on what they would like to see as the...